Visual Artists and Craft Makers fund reopens

A scheme aimed at helping local artists and crafts people take their creative development and ideas to the next level is open again for applications, following renewed backing from Creative Scotland.

The Visual Artists and Craft Makers Awards offers grants of £500 and £1500 to support individual artists and craft makers develop professionally and creatively. It is run by Orkney Islands Council on behalf of Creative Scotland, with the support of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Funding can be used to support research, skills training, studio work, exhibitions and mentoring.

The Councils’ Arts Officer, Antony Mottershead, said: “This is the fifth year of the Award and we’re grateful to Creative Scotland for their continued support of the scheme here in Orkney.

“So far the scheme has helped 19 local artists and makers to test new ideas, or to access skills or equipment needed to develop their work.”The Council and Creative Scotland are running two workshops in September to give interested artists and craft makers the chance to find out more and support with developing and completing applications.

Local painter Katherine Diaper was awarded funding last year to support a period of time developing works in response to the Orkney yole.

“I have always been fascinated by Ian Richardson’s boatyard in Stromness, and wanted to research and observe the creation and repair of the Yole, as well as explore the landscape of Ian’s workshop and the parallels with the coastal landscape it’s surrounded by.

“The award helped me travel to mainland Scotland for research trips, for example to the Glasgow transport museum in February and a planned trip in September to the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther.

“This will help me explore how yoles vary from other Scottish wooden fishing boats and give me a greater understanding of its unique history, as well as the unique lines and angles in the design of a yole.”

Katherine will be speaking at the workshops about how her project has unfolded - and to provide further advice on developing a good application.